Supporting device for neon tubes



April 1, 1941. F. A. BECKER SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR NEON TUBES Filed Jan. 17, 1959 Patented Apr. 1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR. NEON TUBES Fred A. Becker, New York, N. Y.

Application January 17, 1939, Serial No. 251,437

3 Claims.

This invention relates to supporting devices and more particularly to a support designed for use with a luminous tube or what is known in the trade as a neon tube.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved resilient support for a neon or luminous tube.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved support for a luminous or neon tube which is so constructed that the tube support and the post carried by the support may have substantially universal adjustment so that it will portions of the tubes.

To the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pair of supporting devices constructed according to an embodiment of this invention mounted on a base which is partly shown in section,

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of a supporting post attached to the luminous or neon tube, the tube being shown in section,

Figure 3 is a perspective View of one of the substantially resilient supporting devices,

. Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of post and the supporting device,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the structure shown in Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further modification of this invention, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a modification of the structure shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawing and first to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the numeral [0 designates generally a channel-shaped base member which is preferably constructed out of sheet metal and the character T designates a luminous tube which is adapted to be mounted on the base it. At the present time the tube T is adapted to be secured to'the base In by supporting and attaching devices Which may be swung horizontally relative to the surface of the base I 0 and may also be adjusted toward or away from the base It), the usual form of adjustment being by threading the supporting post through the supporting bracket. However, this form of attaching means is objectional in many respects due not only to the cost of the attaching devices but also to the fact that these attaching devices are so constructed that the insulating post must'be relatively long and the length of this post places a limitation on the position of certain portions of the tube -T relative to the base l0. Furthermore, the attaching devices at present available are limited in their adjustment so that it is not possible for the attaching devices to be placed on the base ID in the shop and the tube T then mounted on the attaching devices at the point where the sign is to be erected.

In order'therefore to provide an attaching device which is exceedingly simple in construction and at the same time is capable of a wider range of adjustment than the devices at present available, I have provided a substantially resilient supporting member generally designated as H which is adapted to be attached at one end thereof by means of a screw or bolt I3 to the base It). The supporting member II in the present instance is constructed of a relatively stiff wire which is provided with a U-shaped lower portion l2 and a.U-shaped upper portion [4 which is connected to the lower portion I2 by a connecting member IS. The two portions I2 and I4 together with the connecting portion [5 are formed from a single wire which has a degree of rigidity and also a degree of resiliency so that the reverted portions l2 and I4 may be bent relative to each other in order to position the supporting post {6 in the desired relation to the tube T.

The supporting member I I is provided with an eye I! which is integral with one end of the U member 12 and through which the bolt or screw I3 is adapted to engage. A second eye I8 is formed integral with the free end of the U member l4 and this eye I8 is adapted to engage in a groove l9 formed between a pair of flanges 20 and 2| which are formed on the lower end of the supporting post [6. The supporting post I6 is formed of dielectric material and is provided on the upper end thereof with a tube seat or saddle 22. A pair of diametrically opposed and downwardly divergent lugs 23 extend downwardly from the upper end of the 'post l8 and provide a means whereby a wire 24 may be wrapped about the tube T and thenengaged beneath the lugs 23 so as to firmly secure the tube T on the saddle or seat 22.

As shown in Figure l the wire supporting member H may have the reverted portions [2 and I4 spread apart for a considerable distance so as to position the post IS a relatively great distance away from the top of the base [0. It will also be noted in Figure 1 that where the post l6 engages a reverted portion designated R of the tube T the U portions l2 and I4 may be compressed so that the post [6 will be positioned and supported closely adjacent the surface of the base I0. If desired the supporting member I I may be spread apart laterally with the upper eye l8 thereof disposed laterally of the lower eye I1 and this supporting member Il may be either compressed or extended as circumstances require.

In Figure 4 there is disclosed a supporting post the post I6 may be relatively loosely mounted within the eye l8 so that the post l6 may be axially adjusted. The eye I! is initially adapted to be secured by the fastening member 13 to the base [0 and then the tube T may be secured to the post l6 by the strap or wire 24. The position of the post 16 relative to the tube T may be substantially universally adjusted, that is it maybe adjusted in a horizontal direction as viewed in Figure 1 or may be adjusted vertically as well as horizoningbolt l3 as if desired the upper U member I may be bent on an angle either horizontal or vertical and the upper leg of the U member l4 may also be bent outwardly as well as either upwardly or inwardly depending upon the position l6 having a shank provided with opposed fiattened portions 26 which are adapted to be engaged by a hook 21 formed at the free end of the upper reverted member M In other respects the supporting member l I shown in Figure 4 is similar to the supporting member I l. The hook 21 is provided with an inwardly ofiset bill 28 which is adapted to firmly hold the shank 25 within the hook 2 1.

In Figure 5 there is disclosed a slightly modified form of supporting member ll where the lower end of the reverted portion I2 is provided with a ring I! which may be either welded on to the end of the reverted portion l2 or if desired may be formed by flattening the end of the reverted portion 12 and then drilling a hole through the flattened portion.

In Figure 6 there is disclosed a further modification of this invention wherein a supporting member ll is provided which has only a single U-shaped portion 12 and an upwardly projecting stem 29 having a socket 30 secured to the upper end of the stem 29. The lower or free end of the U member 12 is provided with a rectangular plate 3| having an opening 32 therein to receive the fastening or securing bolt or screw. The socket or cup 3|] is provided with a, split portion 33 and the lower end of a supporting post I6 is adapted to be frictionally held in the split and resilient socket 30. The supporting member fied form of the structure shown in Figure 6' wherein the supporting member li is constructed of lead or solder and is provided with a round base plate 31 having an opening 32 in the center thereof. r

In the use of this tube supporting device the supporting member II is adapted to have the post I6 engaged with the eye l8 and if desired of the particular part of the tube T relative to the base [0.

The 'tube attaching means hereinbefore described may be constructed at a relatively small cost and due to the substantially universal adjustment of the attaching device this device is capable of wider use than attaching devices heretofore available. With attaching devices heretofore available it has been necessary to provide diiierent sizes of the devices and it has not been constructed according to this invention the attaching devices may all be secured to the base III in the shop and only an approximate adjustment made of the supporting posts H5. The supporting posts It may subsequently be shifted laterally and either inwardly or outwardly relative to the base It] at the time that the posts l6 are tied to the tube T between tie wires 24.

What I claim is:

1. As anew article of manufacture an illumi able gaseous tube support comprising an elongated supporting member formed of substantially non-resilient, readily bendable material capable of being bent without the application of tools and of retaining its bent form, means at one end of said member for receiving a tube supporting post, and means at the other end of said member for receiving securing means to secure the member on a tube support.

2. As a new article of manufacture an illuminable gaseous tube support comprising an elongated supporting member formed of substantially to secure the member on a tube support.

3. As a new article .of manufacture an illuminable gaseous tube support comprising an elongated supporting member formed of substantially non-resilient, readily bendable material capable of being bent Without the application of tools and of retaining its bent form, means atone end of said member for receiving a tube supporting post,

said means comprising an integral eye for receiving an end of the post, and means at the other end. of said member for receiving securing means to secure the member on a tube support.

FRED A. BECKER. A 

